Stranger gifts Kenton Co. Vietnam vet's family with answers about his final moments

Stranger gifts Kenton Co. Vietnam vet's family with answers about his final moments

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Updated: 7:03 AM EDT Jul 5, 2017

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WEBVTT NLY ON WLWT.ALEXIS: LETTERS HOLD MANYTRUTHS.>> ON JULY 1, 1970 YOUR BROTHERBILL AND I WERE SLATED AS THENEXT TWO DOG TEAMS TO GO OUT TOTHE VALLEY.ALEXIS: THIS ONE WAS THE STORYOF SERGEANT BILL RAY WHO WASKILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY INVIETNAM ON JULY 4, 1970.>> WE ALWAYS HEARD ABOUT IT.WE ALWAYS HEARD STORIES.OF COURSE FOURTH OF JULY HASALWAYS BEEN A DIFFERENT HOLIDAY.ALEXIS: THE 1968 KENTON GRADUATEGREW UP IN FISK BERG THEN JOINEDTHE ARMY.>> HE WAS A SCOUT DOG HANDLER.THEY WERE BOTH TRAINED TORECOGNIZE EVIDENCE THAT THEENEMY WAS CLOSE.ALEXIS: HIS FAMILY NEVER KNEWWHAT FILLED HIS FINAL MOMENTSUNTIL TODAY.THEY RECEIVED A PACKAGE FROM AMAN RAY TRAINED.>> HE WANTED TO SHARE HISMEMORIES OF BILL RAE WITH THERAY FAMILY.ALEXIS: MORE THAN 40 YEARS LATERTEAR-FILLED EYES MET THE MEDALSPATCHES, PICTURES AND LETTERSTHAT HELD THE ANSWERS THE RAYFAMILY HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR >> I WAS JUST SHOCKED.ESPECIALLY THE LETTER.FOR ANOTHER MAN TO BE KEEPING INTOUCH LIKE THIS AFTER 40SOMETHING YEARS.IT IS SOMETHING SPECIAL.>> I KNOW ONE DAY I WILL BE ABLETO SEE MY FRIENDS AGAIN.BILL, FRITZ AND JIM.ALEXIS: THEIR LOSSES A REMINDEROF THE TRUE MEANING OF THISHOLIDAY.>> THE PARADES, AND FOOD ANDEVERYTHINGBUT THERE IS A COST.FREEDOM ISN'T FREE.ALEXIS: THEY RAY FAMILY TELLS METHAT INDEPENDENCE DAY WILL HOLDA VERY DIFFERENT MEANING INTHEIR HEARTS.THEY TELL ME THE NEXT GOAL IS TOMEET THE MAN WHO HELD ON TOTHEIR LOVED ONES BELONGINGS ALLTHIS TIME.MIKE: RAY AND HIS PARTNERS NAMESCAN BE FOUND AT THE MEMORIAL

Stranger gifts Kenton Co. Vietnam vet's family with answers about his final moments

While many people are celebrating freedom this Fourth of July, others take time to remember their loved ones who died to make freedom possible.

A package from a stranger changed the lives of one Kenton County family.

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Sgt. Bill Ray was killed in the line of duty in Vietnam on July 4, 1970.

Ray was a scout dog handler.

He was trained to recognize evidence that the enemy was close.

The 1968 graduate of Simon Kenton High School grew up in Fiskberg.

Until today, his family never knew what filled his final moments.

They received a package from Bruce Bond, a man Ray had trained. Bill Schneider, who grew up with Ray, connected the Ray family with Bond.

“He wanted to share his memories of Bill Ray with the Ray family, and send us a package,” Schneider said.

As Ray’s family opened Bond’s package, more than 40 years after Ray's death, their tear-filled eyes saw the medals, patches, pictures and letters that held the answers the Ray family had been seeking.

“I was just shocked. Especially the letter. For another man to be keeping in touch like this after 40-something years -- it is something special,” Ray’s nephew, Ethan Ray, said. "We always heard about it. We always heard stories. Of course, Fourth of July has always been a different holiday."

Ray’s family said this Independence Day, they finally feel free.

"It is really nice that we have these things and we can see what really happened that day, because you hear so many stories but you never really hear the real truth,” said Ray’s sister-in-law, Joyce.

The Ray family's loss is a reminder of the true meaning of the holiday.

“The parades and food and everything, but there is a cost. Freedom isn't free,” Schneider said.

The names of Ray and his partner, who also died that day, can be found at the memorial outside Simon Kenton High School.